Blade sharpening device

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a blade sharpening device designed for sharpening a blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof. Generally, the blade sharpening device includes a base, a guide, a carriage, and a blade holder. The blade holder secures the blade while being sharpened. The blade holder is connected to the guide which is movable relative to the base. The base includes a material that receives an impression of a blade to define a blade contour and a grinding medium which provides an abrasive surface. The carriage interacts with the guide to define a sharpening path substantially aligning with the blade contour. The carriage and the guide direct the movement of the abrasive surface along the contour of the blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This continuation-in-part application is related to and claims priority from earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application for Patent No. 61/393,870 filed Oct. 15, 2010, earlier filed U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/774,706 filed May 5, 2010, and U.S. Provisional Application for Patent. No. 61/178,534, filed May 15, 2009,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to blade or knife sharpening devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a blade sharpening device that can sharpen blades to provide a consistent and uniform angle along the edge of the blade.

In the industry, it is well known to sharpen blades using a blade sharpening device. Several industries and persons require a sharp blade in their business operations: knife sharpeners, chefs, knife retailers, military, knife manufacturers, restaurants, knife distributors, hardware retailers, cutlery retailers, hardware wholesalers, cutlery wholesalers, agriculture, knife collecting clubs, landscapers, farmers/harvesters, hunters, lawn mower retailers, fishermen, outdoor products distributors, woodworkers, handymen, law enforcement, police, campers, tool retailers, house painters, automotive painting, carpet Installers, upholstery, linoleum installers, winery (pruning), and gardeners.

In order to sharpen a blade, the following issues must be addressed: the angle of the grinding medium to the edge of the blade, the path that the grinding medium follows, consistency of the above two factors throughout the sharpening course, the shape of the grinding medium, and the temperature of the blade during sharpening.

One method of blade sharpening involves using a grinding medium and the skill of the user. The main purpose of the grinding medium is to use something harder than the metal of the blade and grind the blade against it, manually, with little assistance to the user in controlling the angle of the blade. This grinding medium typically consists of grinding stones made of diamond, silicon carbide, aluminum oxide, soft and hard Arkansas, ceramic, and Japanese water stones.

The drawback to using a grinding medium without further assistance is the skill required by the user is an art that is difficult to obtain for ordinary users of the grinding medium. It can produce excellent results provided that the user has the proper know-how and proper coordination. Attempting to sharpen a blade without the proper technique can result in permanent damage of the blade. Sharpening by hand is not for the amateur and it is best when performed by professional knife sharpeners.

Another drawback to this method of sharpening is the time and effort involved in sharpening blades. The user must grind the blade against the stone several times in order to “raise a burr”, the sign that a side of the edge is sharpened. The same procedure must be done on the other side of the blade. Using stones of different grits multiplies the process by several times. Typically, at least two grits of stone and a honing/polishing must be used to properly sharpen a dull blade. This process requires at least 10-20 minutes per blade.

Other methods of blade sharpening address how to maintain a proper angle of the blade against the grinding medium. This category includes several types of devices such as guides, rod guides, crock sticks, slot gadgets, slide sharp, Skarb® system, and warthog system. Each of these devices will be described in further detail below.

Guides, such as the Buck Hone Master® and Razor® edge, assist the user in maintaining the proper angle of the blade to the grinding medium. The drawbacks are that the guides do not make use of the entire stone, the guide degrades during the sharpening process, and the path of the blade is still directed by the user which requires sufficient skill. In addition, it has many of the drawbacks discussed in the grinding medium above.

Rod-guided systems, such as Lansky®, GATCO®, Edge Pro Apex®, and DMT® systems, assist the user to maintain the angle of the blade to the grinding medium. More specifically, it is optimal for use of smaller sized blades. However, it has similar drawbacks featured in the guides and the grinding medium above.

Crock sticks, such as the Spyderco® system, Lansky® system, and Warthog® system, are another type of rod-guided system. With this system, the rods are held in a “V” at a predetermined angle and the blade is brought down against them in a slicing motion. It is another manual sharpening system and the user can make deviations from the set angle by tilting the blade. The drawback to this system is the rods are in a predetermined angle that the user will find difficult to adjust. It also has all the drawbacks of the previously mentioned rod-guided systems.

Slot gadgets, such as the Meyerco Sharpen-It System® and the Normark® sharpener, assist the user to maintain the angle of the blade relative to the grinding medium. With the slot gadgets, the user draws the blade through a slot a few times and this motion sharpens the blade. The drawback of these gadgets is that sometimes they damage the blade. When the slot gadget utilizes wheels, the blade changes shape over time. In addition, the overall quality of the sharpened blade is low.

The Skarb® system is a guide holding the blade in place while this system pivots on a vertical rod. It is a variation on the rod guided systems with low quality results since the angle is not kept the same throughout the blade (from 17 up to 30 degrees to the tip). Also, the Slide® sharp from CRKT® is another variation of the rod guided system having similar problems as the Skarb® (holding the angle throughout the blade).

Another method of sharpening blades involves the usage of power sharpeners. As in manual sharpening, power sharpening can be assisted or unassisted. Unassisted power sharpening involves, for example, two electric sharpeners—a belt sander and a bench grinder. With these electric sharpeners, the user passes the blade against the stone or the belt a few times to sharpen it. Sharpening blades with these two machines requires experience and skill. The belt sander or the stones are aggressive grinding mediums that can damage a blade in an unskilled user.

Assisted power sharpening is popular among both amateurs and professionals alike. The grinding medium is still a stone or a sand paper but the machines are outfitted with several guides or jigs to maintain a constant angle of the blade and guide the user for the proper sharpening. Two examples of assisted power sharpening are the Makita® and the Delta® with guides that help the user to adjust and keep the desired angle of the blade to the grinding medium.

Another two examples of assisted power sharpening are the Edge Craft's Chef® and the Fire Stone® from McGowan®. In this case, both machines use diamond hones for sharpening but the difference from the Makita® and the Delta® is that they have a guide that holds the blade in place so that the user does not wobble the blade during sharpening They both have predetermined angles and three sets of wheels, two for sharpening and one for polishing/honing. The user makes a few passes from one slot to the other up to the polishing stage. These machines sometimes fail to produces a sharp edge on the blade and can scratch the sides of the blade.

On the professional grade, there are several types of sharpening systems. The Friedrich Dick® model, the True Hone® model, the Hook-Eye® belt grinder, and the Chef's Choice® professional are a few examples of some professional grade blade sharpening systems. Not all of them consistently create a razor edge on a blade. The machines are manufactured mainly for the purposes of a professional sharpener. Consequently, these devices still require some a skilled user for operation.

Finally, the Tormek® system uses a wet wheel and several guides and jigs for sharpening knives. It has a fully adjustable angle maker that sets the desired angle. It can grind out nicks or reshape broken tips without overheating the blade. It is an expensive tool designed for professional use. The jigs are sold separately, making it even more expensive.

In the prior art, the user's skill and “feeling” of the sharpening is paramount. The “art” part of the sharpening is still present in all of these prior art blade sharpening devices. The present invention solves the above problems in the prior art which results in a consistent, accurate and controlled process for sharpening with minimal user skill required. More importantly, the present invention directs a sharpening path of along a contour of the blade against an abrasive surface, with minimal user input. The present invention brings professional grade sharpening of the blade to the unskilled user with consist and uniform sharpening of the edge.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention preserves the advantages of prior blade sharpening devices. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available blade sharpening devices and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available blade sharpening devices.

The present invention provides a blade sharpening device designed for sharpening along the contour of the blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof. The blade sharpening includes a base that includes a material that receives an impression of a blade defining a blade contour. A blade holder is attached to the base for securing the blade while being sharpened. A guide is rotatably engaged and movable relative to the base. The guide is connected or engaged with a carriage. The carriage contains a means for interacting with the material of the guide to define a sharpening path substantially aligning with the blade contour. The carriage having an abrasive surface for sharpening the blade. The abrasive surface contacts the blade during the sharpening process to provide a uniform edge along a length of the blade.

In operation, the guide and carriage direct the movement of the abrasive surface along the contour of the blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof as further defined in the following steps. First, the user places the blade of the knife in the blade holder and secures it in place using a fastening member, such as a screw. The user brings the blade to the horizontal plane, based upon its weight, which is measured by a dial on the blade holder. Second, with a stretcher device or manually, the user pulls one or more tracer sheets attached to the base or other materials that can receive an impression towards the carriage and guide and away from the blade holder, so that there is sufficient space for the blade to define a contour within the tracer sheets. Third, the user lowers the blade towards the tracer sheets until the blade holder engages the sheets. Fourth, the stretcher device is released by the user and the sheets copy the shape of the blade contour. Fifth, an aligner resets any sheet into its original position if it does not engage the blade. Sixth, the user locks the tracer sheets in position with a bar member attached to the base using locking members, such as screws. Seventh, the user vertically moves the blade away from the tracer sheets using a height gauge.

Eighth, the user rotates the arm or guide in front of the tracer sheets. Ninth, the user lowers the blade until the blade edge contacts an antenna member positioned on the carriage above the grinding medium or abrasive surface. At this point, the blade edge would be sharpened at 0 degrees. Tenth, an angle setter attached to the blade holder telescopically moves the blade holder away from the grinding medium to a desired sharpening angle for the blade. The further away from the grinding medium the blade moves, the larger the angle of sharpening Likewise, the closer the blade is to the grinding medium, the smaller the angle of sharpening Note, the blade is not touching the grinding medium at this point. Eleventh, the user lowers the blade further until it contacts or engages the grinding medium. The user continues to lower the knife until it meets the desired force or pressure of the blade onto the grinding medium. The amount of force or pressure which is applied can be measured by a protracter positioned on the blade holder. The amount of force or pressure will determined an amount of material to be removed, or depth of cut, from the blade during the sharpening of the blade. Twelfth, the user starts sharpening the blade by turning the motor on and sharpens the lower side or first side of the blade. The edge of the blade is sharpened by tracking the carriage along the tracer sheets of the base. By rolling the carriage along the sheets of the base, the blade is sharpened along a defined path similar to the contour of the blade. After a couple of passes of the grinding medium along the blade contour, the lower side of the blade is sharpened. Next, the user then disengages the blade form the sharpening medium by turning the dials on the height gauge and the angle setter correspondingly. Thirteenth, the user lowers the knife to a lower side of the grinding medium to sharpen the upper side of the knife, changes the polarity of the sharpening device, and follows the same process for upper side of the blade.

The invention provides a blade sharpening device designed for sharpening a blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof. Generally, the blade sharpening device includes a base, a guide, a carriage, and a blade holder. The blade holder secures the blade while being sharpened. The blade holder is connected to the guide which is movable relative to the base. The base includes a material that receives an impression of a blade to define a blade contour and a grinding medium which provides an abrasive surface. The carriage interacts with the guide to define a sharpening path substantially aligning with the blade contour. The carriage and the guide direct the movement of the abrasive surface along the contour of the blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof.

The invention also provides a method for sharpening an edge of a blade. First, a blade is secured in a blade holder. Second, an angle of the cutting edge of the blade is determined. Third, an angle for sharpening of the edge is selected using a material having preformed grooves. Fourth, the depth of removal of material from blade is selected by increasing or decreasing pressure of the blade against the grinding medium. Fifth, the edge of the blade is secured within the grooves for tracking the impression of the contour of the blade. Sixth, the blade engages the material and the grinding medium while the blade moves backward and forward along the contour of the blade. As a result, the tangent line of the blade is maintained relative to the grinding medium during sharpening.

It is therefore an object of the blade sharpening device to provide consistency in both a contour and an edge of the blade during sharpening.

It is a further object of the blade sharpening device to consistently sharpen along a tangent line of the blade relative to the abrasive surface.

It is a further object of the blade sharpening device to adjust or select a degree or amount of material removed from a blade during sharpening of the blade.

Another object of the blade sharpening device is to select or adjust an angle at which the blade is sharpened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features which are characteristic of the blade sharpening device are set forth in the appended claims. However, the blade sharpening device, together with further embodiments and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blade sharpening device of the invention including a stretcher and aligner;

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the blade sharpening device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the blade sharpening device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the blade sharpening device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the blade sharpening device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the blade sharpening device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial left side view of the blade sharpening device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a partial elevated view of the blade sharpening device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing illustrating sharpening the blade along the tangent line relative to the blade sharpening device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing illustrating sharpening the blade along the tangent line relative to the blade sharpening device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing illustrating sharpening the blade along the tangent line relative to the blade sharpening device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a schematic drawing illustrating sharpening the blade along the tangent line relative to the blade sharpening device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a schematic drawing illustrating sharpening the blade along the tangent line relative to the blade sharpening device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a sectional side view used in the blade sharpening device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a level used in the blade sharpening device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a sectional side view of the blade sharpening device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the blade sharpening device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the blade sharpening device;

FIG. 19 is a side perspective view of the blade sharpening device of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the blade sharpening device;

FIG. 21 is a side perspective view of the blade sharpening device of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a side view of the blade sharpening device of FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a schematic drawing illustrating sharpening angles for a blade relative to the blade sharpening device in FIG. 20;

FIG. 24 is a side view of another embodiment of the blade sharpening device;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the blade sharpening device of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a side perspective view of another embodiment of the blade sharpening device;

FIG. 27 is a side view of the blade sharpening device of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a side view of the blade sharpening device of FIG. 26 with the carriage spring-biased;

FIG. 29 is a top view of the blade sharpening device of FIG. 26;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the blade sharpening device of FIG. 26 before sharpening; and

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the blade sharpening device of FIG. 26 during sharpening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention solves the problems in blade sharpening devices by providing a new and unique construction for consistent and effective sharpening of blades. Generally, the present invention is a blade sharpening device 100 designed for sharpening a blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof. Most importantly, the present invention provides a sharpening path defined by a contour of the blade with minimal user input.

Now referring to FIGS. 1-10, the blade sharpening device 100 is designed for sharpening the blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof. The present invention provides a blade sharpening device 100 designed for sharpening along the contour of the blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof. The blade sharpening device 100 includes a base 110 that includes a material 140, such as tracers, that receive an impression of a blade defining a blade contour. A blade holder 120, using a height gauge, is attached to the base 110 for securing the blade while being sharpened. A guide 130, such as a rotatable arm, is rotatably engaged and movable relative to the base 110. The guide 130 is connected or engaged with a carriage 150. The carriage 150 contains a means for interacting with the material 140 of the base 110, such as bearings, to define a sharpening path substantially aligning with the blade contour. The carriage 150 having an abrasive surface or grinding medium for sharpening the blade. The abrasive surface contacts the blade during the sharpening process to provide a uniform edge along a length of the blade.

Referring to FIGS. 1-17, a blade sharpening device 100 is illustrated. This is the sharpening system that makes sharpening easy and precise. It is fully customizable thus controlling all the factors that govern the sharpening procedure. The path of the edge of the blade, the curvature of the blade and the force which the knife exerts to the grinding medium, all are taken into consideration in its design.

The blade sharpening device 100 is provided below in further detail with emphasis on particular aspects of the invention. The stretcher 101 consists of a solid rod and a handle. The two pieces are connected with a thick rubber cord. The user places the rod of the stretcher behind the tracer sheets, on the small part of their “L” and pulls them in a direction against the height gauge. Doing so, he frees the space for the blade. He then lowers down the knife with the height gauge until the blade is behind the small part of the “L”. Now, the blade's edge is ready to be copied. The user releases the stretcher and the sheets run back with the force of the rubber band. On their way back, they meet the blade thus copying exactly its shape.

An aligner 102 is a box that has two rollers with their axis vertical to the ground. This device is used to align any tracer sheet that is out of place. In case some of the tracer sheets have not touched the blade of the knife, the aligner pushes them back to meet the blade.

A rest is an area on the base that has the same dimension with the tracer bearing of the arm. It is used to rest the arm when the arm is not needed. The user places the arm on this device so that the tracer bearing hugs the rest. This way, the arm is out of the way of the “copying field” and the tracer sheets can copy the edge of the blade.

A locking bar that runs from one end of the box to the opposite, covering the tracer sheets. It is used to lock the tracer sheets after they have copied the shape of the edge of the blade. The user “freezes” the copy of the edge of the blade by tightening the two screws that support the bar.

An anchor is a box that is placed in both sides of the base. It is used to support the screw of the bar and the bracket for the rubber band. There are two “anchors” in both sides of the base.

A bracket is a device that accepts and holds the rubber band. There are two brackets in both sides of the base. The bracket holds the rubber band in front of the tracer sheets. The band is stretched between the two brackets in both sides of the base.

A “rubber band” (elastic band) is an elastic band that covers the front side of the tracer sheets and it is stretched. It is used to push the tracer sheets back to the edge of the blade thus taking its copy. It is also used to smooth the way of the rollers, in case some of the sheets are protruding in the rollers' course. The rubber band is hold stretched by the two brackets on each side of the box.

A “height gauge” is two rods that support the height gauge box and have facing small indentations. It is used to move the knife up and down in the vertical plane.

A “height gauge box” is a box that goes up and down on the height gauge. It has a dial and the corresponding teeth that match the indentation in the height gauge rods, the box moves in the vertical level precisely. This way the user can place the knife in the desired height.

An “angle setter” is a tube that contains a rod. The rod moves precisely in and out of the tube with the help of a dial. The user sets the proper angle for the sharpening of the blade by moving the rod in and out. The rod has indentations so that its course is determined by the user. The user uses the dial to move the rod in and out of the tube. By doing so, the knife moves closer or farther from the center of the grinding medium, meaning smaller or bigger angles. The closer the knife to the grinding disk center, the smaller the angle.

A “blade holder pivoting angle setter” is a protractor that determines the angle of the blade holder to the grinding medium. The blade holder pivoting angle setter determines the force with which the knife touches the grinding medium. The angle setter is located in the height gauge. The more the user pushes the knife to the grinding disk, the bigger the force the knife exerts to the disk (for duller knives). The user does so with the height gauge dial, which moves the knife up and down, thus pushing more or less the knife to the grinding medium.

A “protractor needle” is a needle that is based on the blade holder. This needle indicates the angle of the blade holder to the grinding medium. The user determines the force with which the blade touches the grinding medium by moving the height gauge box, thus the blade. By doing so, the user can precisely dial the proper force of the blade to the grinding medium (dull or not so dull knives).

A “blade holder pivoting axis and springs” is two rods that run through the blade holder and the blade holder pivots around them by turning the dials on each rod and a pair of springs that hold the blade holder in the horizontal plane. The springs are used to turn the blade back to the horizontal plane after it is sharpened. This way, the knife is always under tension until it is properly sharpened. When the knife is in the horizontal plane, this indicates that the knife is properly sharpened. The horizontal plane is marked by the level on top of the blade holder.

A level with a bubble marks the horizontal plane. The user brings the knife (according to its weight) with the two pivoting axis small dials to the horizontal plane. When the bubble shows “0” he knows the knife is horizontal.

A “blade holder and its screw(s)” is a box with a slot where the knife is placed and a screw (or two) to lock the knife in the desired place. It also supports the level. The user places the knife in the blade holder and locks it down with the screw(s).

The “arm” is a tube and a rod that moves in and out of the tube. The rod is spring loaded with a spring that is supported on the tube and on its other end grabs the rod and offers tension to it. The user places the arm in front of the sheets to start the sharpening procedure. With the help of the spring, the user is reassured that the arm (thus the motor and the grinding medium) is also facing the sheets under tension, since the arm is always pulled back towards the sheets. It also contains the motor, the bearings (path and curvature) and the handle.

An “arm pivoting bearing” is a bearing that holds the vertical part of the arm's tube. The user can turn the arm right and left precisely. This way, he can place it in front of the sheets for sharpening the blade or in the “rest” to move it out of the way of the “copying field”.

A set of three bearings is provided. The two upper bearings are called “curvature bearings” and the lower is called “path bearing”. The path bearing is guiding the arm (thus the motor and the grinding medium) right and left on the horizontal plane and the curvature bearings are guiding the motor (thus the grinding medium) on the tangent line that each blade curve dictates. The path bearing reassures the user that the grinding disk will always stay in touch with the blade (hence path bearing) and the curvature bearings reassure the user that the grinding disk will always face the blade in the tangent line that its curvature dictates (hence curvature bearings).

A “motor” rotates the grinding medium that sharpens the blade.

A “grinding medium with the shield” sharpens and polishes the blade. The shield protects the user from the spinning disks and the debris of the sharpening procedure. It contains one, two or three grinding disks of grinding medium that do the sharpening and polishing of the blade. It can be made out of stone, diamond, paper, or leather.

An “antenna” is a thin rod that protrudes from the shield of the grinding medium and marks the center of the disk. The antenna marks the “0” angle of the grinding disks. When the knife touches the antenna, the user knows that it is in the zero, meaning totally horizontal.

A “ball” is mounted on the arm. It is the actual handle of the arm. The user moves the arm using this ball. A “path bearing frame” is a vertical piece of material that extends from the arm to the base. With its level bottom, it holds the arm in the horizontal plane at all times during sharpening and it also supports the path bearing with its frame.

The “tracer sheets”, also known as the material that is capable of receiving an impression, are thin sheets or rods (or else) placed one next to another forming a wall. They are responsible for the copying of the shape of the blade. They do so by moving right and left on the horizontal plane and are based on the base of the device. After they touch the blade, they form a path on which the whole sharpening process is based on.

The “base” is a box that supports all the parts of the sharpening procedure. It supports the tracer sheets, the arm, the height gauge and the anchors with the bar, along with the rubber band. The “cable” is an electrical cable. It powers the motor.

In operation, the guide and carriage direct the movement of the abrasive surface along the contour of the blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof as further defined in the following steps. First, the user places the blade of the knife in the blade holder and secures it in place using a fastening member, such as a screw. The user brings the blade to the horizontal plane, based upon its weight, which is measured by a dial on the blade holder. Second, with a stretcher device or manually, the user pulls one or more tracer sheets attached to the base or other materials that can receive an impression towards the carriage and guide and away from the blade holder, so that there is sufficient space for the blade to define a contour within the tracer sheets. Third, the user lowers the blade towards the tracer sheets until the blade holder engages the sheets. Fourth, the stretcher device is released by the user and the sheets copy the shape of the blade contour. Fifth, an aligner resets any sheet into its original position if it does not engage the blade. Sixth, the user locks the tracer sheets in position with a bar member attached to the base using locking members, such as screws. Seventh, the user vertically moves the blade away from the tracer sheets using a height gauge.

Eighth, the user rotates the arm or guide in front of the tracer sheets. Ninth, the user lowers the blade until the blade edge contacts an antenna member positioned on the carriage above the grinding medium or abrasive surface. At this point, the blade edge would be sharpened at 0 degrees. Tenth, an angle setter attached to the blade holder telescopically moves the blade holder away from the grinding medium to a desired sharpening angle for the blade. The further away from the grinding medium the blade moves, the larger the angle of sharpening. Likewise, the closer the blade is to the grinding medium, the smaller the angle of sharpening. Note, the blade is not touching the grinding medium at this point. Eleventh, the user lowers the blade further until it contacts or engages the grinding medium. The user continues to lower the knife until it meets the desired force or pressure of the blade onto the grinding medium. The amount of force or pressure which is applied can be measured by a protracter positioned on the blade holder. The amount of force or pressure will determined an amount of material to be removed, or depth of cut, from the blade during the sharpening of the blade. Twelfth, the user starts sharpening the blade by turning the motor on and sharpens the lower side or first side of the blade. The edge of the blade is sharpened by tracking the carriage along the tracer sheets of the base. By rolling the carriage along the sheets of the base, the blade is sharpened along a defined path similar to the contour of the blade. After a couple of passes of the grinding medium along the blade contour, the lower side of the blade is sharpened. Next, the user then disengages the blade form the sharpening medium by turning the dials on the height gauge and the angle setter correspondingly. Thirteenth, the user lowers the knife to a lower side of the grinding medium to sharpen the upper side of the knife, changes the polarity of the sharpening device, and follows the same process for upper side of the blade.

Referring now to FIG. 9-11, the sketch indicates how the sharpening angles work. The more the blade moves to the top of the disk, the smaller the angle it gets. The more it gets away from the top (antenna) the bigger the angles they get.

Referring now to FIGS. 12-17, the path bearing is responsible for the moving of the arm right and left on the horizontal plane, in and out of the blade's path, to always stay in touch with it. The curvature bearings are responsible for always keeping the grinding medium flash (in the tangent line) to the blade, by rotating the disk according to the contour of the blade.

Referring to FIGS. 18-25, a blade sharpening device 200, 300, 400 in additional embodiments, incorporates the advantages and benefits of the above-mentioned blade sharpening device 100 (FIGS. 1-17) designed for sharpening a blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof. The blade sharpening devices 200, 300, 400 further include alternative embodiments incorporating the blade holder, guide, carriage, and base which are further explained herein.

The present invention solves the problems in blade sharpening devices by providing a new and unique construction for consistent and effective sharpening of blades. Generally, the present invention is a blade sharpening device 200, 300, 400 is designed for sharpening a blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof. Most importantly, the present invention provides a sharpening path defined by a contour of the blade with minimal user input.

Referring to FIGS. 18-19, the blade sharpening device 200 is designed for sharpening along the contour of the blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof. The blade sharpening includes a base that includes a material that receives an impression of a blade defining a blade contour. A blade holder is attached to the base for securing the blade while being sharpened. A guide is rotatably engaged and movable relative to the base. The guide is connected or engaged with a carriage. The carriage contains a means for interacting with the material of the guide, or tracers, to define a sharpening path substantially aligning with the blade contour. The carriage having an abrasive surface for sharpening the blade. The abrasive surface contacts the blade during the sharpening process to provide a uniform edge along a length of the blade.

Still referring to FIGS. 18-19, there are some additional details which are of note for the carriage. Two small rollers are attached to a shaft on the carriage which slidably engage a spring member and thereby guide the grinding medium along a proper and customized contour of the blade. In addition, the carriage includes a grinding medium and vacuum attached to the shaft which rotates the carriage in conformance with the contour of the blade.

An anchor bar assembly is disclosed that “lock” the tracers in the proper place after creating an impression of the blade within the tracers. The anchor bar assembly includes a rubber band by which the locking is done. Furthermore, the anchor bar includes cam levers that lock and unlock the bars which have the spring disposed between an upper anchor bar and a lower anchor bar of the anchor bar assembly to keep the upper and lower anchor bar at a predetermined distance and a screw that holds anchor bar assembly in the base of the blade sharpening device.

The base of the blade sharpening device is illustrated including the walls, the frames for the linear motion bearings and a small shaft whereby the guide attached to the carriage rotates thereabout. In the linear motion bearings, shafts attached to a frame of the tracers engage therein. In addition, a recess is shown in the wall of the base for seating the cam levers of the anchor bar assembly.

The blade holder is illustrated which provides sharpening angle and depth of a cut into the blade. The sharpening angle board is used for choosing the correct sharpening angle and the depth of the cut board for determining the depth of the cut into the blade. The blade holder slides up and down on the four small shafts with the four springs that holds the blade “dynamically” in the ‘0” position (relatively on the X level). As soon as the user touches the blade on the grinding medium, the user keeps lowering down the blade holder and this lowering down action “digs” into the grinding medium determining the depth of the cut. The pointer on the side of the blade holder is used for showing the depth of the cut.

The blade holder is positioned along the height gauge. The moving base on the height gauge, the knurled knob for determining the sharpening angle and the pointer determines the depth of the cut. Here is how the depth of the cut is determined. The blade holder is kept in place by four springs that keep it “dynamically” level in the X plane. It can go up or down if the user pushes the knife up or down and that's how the depth of the cut is determined. The sliding base that holds the blade holder determines the sharpening angles (according to the grinding medium diameter). The blade holder base is moving in and out and the user determines the sharpening angle, meaning with rack (on the blade holder base) and the corresponding pinion). Also, the knurled knob rotates the pinion and the pointer so that it shows the proper angle on the angles board.

In operation, the guide and carriage direct the movement of the abrasive surface along the contour of the blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof as further defined in the following steps. First, the user places the blade of the knife in the blade holder and secures it in place using a fastening member, such as a screw. The user lowers the knife by turning the handle of the lead screw until the blade touches the grinding medium.

Next, the user chooses the sharpening angle with the knurled knob that moves the moving base in and out (the base that holds the blade holder). After determining the sharpening angle, the user lowers the knife down until it hits the upper anchor bar. Next, the slides the tracers and leaves them free to “meet” the blade. By doing so, the tracers take the contour of the blade. As soon as the tracers copy the contour of the blade, the user “freezes” the copied contour by locking the anchor bars with the two handles. After that, the user is free to sharpen the blade. The user reaches the top of the grinding medium surface and keeps pushing down until the desired depth of cut is reached.

The user determines that by the side pointer that shows how “deep” into the grinding medium the blade will go. The user reaches into the other part, takes the handle of the motor frame and slides the two rollers on the constant force spring that covers the tracers from the front side. By sliding the motor, the grinding medium sharpens the blade. Then the user does the same on the lower side of the grinding medium (for the upper side of the blade).

Referring to FIGS. 20-23, the blade sharpening device 300 is designed for sharpening along the contour of the blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof. The blade sharpening includes a base that includes tracers that maintains the blade in its proper position in relation to its contour. A blade holder is attached to a carriage for securing the blade while being sharpened. A guide is configured for movement relative to the base. The guide is connected or engaged with the carriage. The carriage contains a constant tension means, such as a spring, for holding the blade under tension against an abrasive surface for sharpening the blade attached to the base. The abrasive surface contacts the blade during the sharpening process to provide a uniform edge along a length of the blade.

There are some additional details which are of note. In one embodiment, the blade sharpening device 300 includes a moving rail or guide, a carriage including a shaft with a handle attached, a frame that supports the guide for movement relative to the tracers in and out, the grinding motor or medium, and a vacuum. A rack and pinion move the blade holder up and down via the pinion handle (knob) which is knurled. In addition, a brake knob stops and holds the blade holder in the desired height, which is located next to the knurled pinion handle. Also, a bushing on the base rotates the main shaft and a spring connector screw holds the spring, which connects the two parts (blade holder side and tracers side). Indentations indicate the depth of the cut.

The tracers, a vacuum, an angles board and the moving base that moves the tracers are generally shown. The vacuum motor and the vacuum basket is where the filings from the sharpening are collected for disposal. The tracers are responsible for the proper contour (tangency) at a lower part of the blade or top part of the blade respectively. The angles board indicates the proper sharpening angle. The grinding medium is proximal to the tracers, the moving base of the tracers, and the knurled knob that moves the moving base and the brake for the moving base to stop. Also, the frame facilitates moving the guide in and out relative to the base.

In general, the blade sharpening device consists of two main components including the knife holder side and the motor side. The knife holder side consists of a main shaft with the rack and with the spring. A lower jaw of the blade holder with linear bearing (in the middle), with the pinion, the handle of the pinion, the brake (to stop the movement) and the upper jaw. The bushing base includes the bushing for the main shaft to rotate on, the handle of the machine, the block and the rail that moves the blade holder in the X level in linear motion.

The motor side consists of the tracers (two up, two down), the grinding motor with its frame and the grinding medium (diamond here), the vacuum motor with its bucket, the moving base with the rack (that moves the tracers in and out), the angles board that determine the sharpening angle, and the frame where the moving base or guide is sliding in and out. The angles are set with the pointer to indicate the proper angle. The rack moves the tracers (on their moving base) in and out via its pinion and its handle.

As mentioned above, the blade sharpening device provides sharpening of a blade in relation to at least three factors: contour (tangency), angle, and depth of cut which shall be explained in more detail below. To begin, the user places the knife in the blade holder, determines the angle of the edge of the blade, and then determines the depth of the cut and begins sharpening the blade. With regard to contour of the blade, the tracers are critical to providing a sharpening path along the contour of the blade. Typically, at least two tracers are adjacent and proximal to the grinding medium. These two tracers, in the shape of rods or other shapes, assist the user sharpen the blade according to its edge contour. The tracers, being parallel to each other, maintain the blade in its proper position in relation to its contour.

It should be appreciated that knives don't have straight edges and each blade has its own shape and contour. Therefore, in order to for the blade to be sharpened properly, each blade dictates its own path, contour. This is also what it keeps the grinding medium in the tangent line of the blade's edge. Since the grinding medium is between the two tracers, it stays always at the tangent line or the blade's edge. So, when the blade is getting sharpened according to its contour, it is also sharpened at the tangent line of its edge. Contour of the edge of the blade and tangent line of the edge of the blade are one thing, if and only if the grinding medium is following the tracers at the same line, in other words, if the grinding medium and the tracers are co-linear.

With regards to the angle of the blade, the tracers are located in a movable base which dictates the angle of the sharpening. For instance, the “0” degrees on the angles board indicate that the angle between the blade and the grinding medium is 0 degrees. Moving the tracers forward (with the movable base) towards the blade, means that the angle between the blade and the grinding medium is increasing. The angle is increasing because the tracers are perpendicular to the grinding medium's edge and moving forward means getting bigger angle on the grinding medium's edge. Since the grinding medium is a disc, moving along on the edge of the disc translates into a larger and increasing angle. Referring to FIG. 23, by way of example, a black line (A) indicates 0 degrees angle, a red line (B) indicates 10 degrees, a green line (C) indicates 20 degrees, and a yellow line (D) indicates 30 degrees.

The depth of cut is determined by the indentations on the main shaft that moves the blade holder up and down and right and left. As soon as the blade touches the grinding medium at the desired angle, the user continues to push the blade towards the grinding medium. The user stops at the desired indentation and that means that the blade will be sharpened up to that point. The indentations are in a predetermined position indicating several depths of cut. After the proper depth is determined the user locks the blade holder in place and starts sharpening the knife.

In operation, the user slides the carriage with a blade secured in the blade holder along the guide to maintain the blade against the tracers for grinding along the contour of the blade. After placing the knife on the blade holder, the user touches the blade to the tracers (in the upper or lower side), sets the sharpening angle, determines the depth of the cut and begins sharpening by sliding the carriage right and left. The carriage moves right and left along the guide and the guide moves in and out relative to the base to engage the grinding medium along the contour of the blade. The blade touches the tracers (and the grinding medium) at all times under tension using a spring member and by doing so the knife blade is on its proper contour and tangency on the grinding medium.

Referring to FIGS. 24-25, the blade sharpening device 400 is designed for sharpening along the contour of the blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof. The blade sharpening includes a base that includes tracers that maintains the blade in its proper position in relation to its contour. A blade holder is attached to a carriage for securing the blade while being sharpened. A guide is configured for movement relative to the base. The guide is connected or engaged with the carriage and the base. The base contains a constant tension means, such as a spring, for holding the blade under tension against an abrasive surface for sharpening the blade attached to the base. The abrasive surface contacts the blade during the sharpening process to provide a uniform edge along a length of the blade.

In operation, the user slides the carriage with a blade secured in the blade holder along the guide to maintain the blade against the tracers for grinding along the contour of the blade. After placing the knife on the blade holder, the user touches the blade to the tracers (in the upper or lower side), sets the sharpening angle, determines the depth of the cut and begins sharpening by sliding the carriage right and left. The carriage moves right and left along the guide and the guide moves in and out relative to the base to engage the grinding medium along the contour of the blade. The blade touches the tracers (and the grinding medium) at all times under tension using a spring member and by doing so the knife blade is on its proper contour and tangency on the grinding medium.

Referring to FIGS. 26-31, a blade sharpening device 500, in another embodiment, incorporates the advantages and benefits of the above-mentioned blade sharpening devices 100, 200, 300, 400 (FIGS. 1-25) designed for sharpening a blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof. The blade sharpening device 500 further includes alternative embodiments incorporating the blade holder, guide, carriage, and base which are further explained herein. Most importantly, the present invention provides a sharpening path defined by a contour of the blade with minimal user input.

Referring to FIG. 26, the invention provides the blade sharpening device 500 designed for sharpening a blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof. Generally, the blade sharpening device 500 includes a base 5100, a guide 530A, 530B, a carriage 550, and a blade holder 520 which shall be explained further below.

The blade holder 520 is connected to the guide 530A which is movable relative to the base 510. The blade holder 520 secures the blade while being sharpened. In one embodiment, the blade holder 520 is rotatably connected to the guide 530A to facilitate movement of the blade along the sharpening path. The blade holder 520 includes a clamp or vice which secures the blade along a horizontal axis by using an adjustment knob or mechanism. The clamp or vice permits blades of varying thickness, size, and style to be held thereby which allows the blade sharpening device a wide range of blades to sharpen. Typically, the flat edge of the blade is held by the clamp or vice while the cutting edge of the blade is directed away from the clamp and towards the base.

The blade holder 520 also includes a post which connects to the guide. In one embodiment, a post opening is defined with the clamp or vice and the post is routed therethrough for rotatably connecting, or permanently, to a guide, such as a rotatable arm. Also, the blade holder 520 includes a height gauge adjustment knob or mechanism for adjusting the height of the blade holder relative to the grinding mechanism along a vertical axis. The height guide adjustment mechanism can be manipulated to determine the distance between blade holder and the base. In particular, the height guide adjustment mechanism may lock into place during the sharpening process. For example, when a top side edge of the blade is sharpened, then the blade holder is lowered to engage a bottom portion of the grinding medium of the base. When a bottom side edge of the blade is sharpened, then the blade is raised to engage a top portion of the grinding medium.

Of course, the adjustment of the blade holder 520 relative to the base 510, and more importantly a grinding medium 560, can also determine the amount of pressure or forces exerted on the blade during the sharpening process which would translate into more or less removal of material from the blade. If the top side edge is being sharpened, the force applied would be in the upward direction. If the bottom side edge is being sharpened, the force applied would be in the downward direction.

The base 510 includes a material 540 that receives an impression of a blade to define a blade contour. In one embodiment, the material 540 is defined as one or more tracers which are positioned on either side of the grinding medium. The tracers receive an impression defining the contour of the blade. In one embodiment, the tracers provide a real-time, instantaneous or automatic impression of the blade while the edge of the blade moves along the tracers. It is also contemplated that the tracers receive an impression defining the contour of the blade, stores the impression within the tracers, and then use the received impression at a later time. The tracers may be plastic material or other materials capable of having preformed grooves 540A which are rotatably connected to one or more rods 542.

The rods 542 attach to a top end of the upper base 510B and extend to a top end of the lower base 510A where they are attached or rotatably connected along a vertical axis. The tracers may defining openings therein for routing the rods through. The tracers are attached to the rods at the proper height corresponding to the relevant predetermined angles. In one embodiment, there are two tracers above the top portion of the grinding medium and two tracers below the bottom portion of the grinding medium. With regard to contour of the blade, the tracers are important in providing a sharpening path along the contour of the blade. Typically, at least two tracers are adjacent and proximal to the grinding medium. These two tracers, in the shape of cylinder or other shapes, assist the user sharpen the blade according to its edge contour. The tracers, being parallel to each other, maintain the blade in its proper position in relation to its contour. Of course, one or more tracers above or any other number may be used. In operation, the tracers secure the blade to a proper angle for sharpening while maintain the tangent line of the blade to the grinding medium. Since the grinding medium 560 is located between the two tracers, it stays always at the tangent line or the blade's edge. So, when the blade is getting sharpened according to its contour, it is also sharpened at the tangent line of its edge. Contour of the edge of the blade and tangent line of the edge of the blade are one thing, if and only if the grinding medium 560 is following the tracers at the same line, in other words, if the grinding medium 560 and the tracers are co-linear.

The base 510 includes the grinding medium 560 attached to a mounting plate which provides an abrasive surface for sharpening the blade. The mounting plate attaches at least one abrasive surface and a motor 562. The abrasive surface includes at least one grinding medium that rotates on at least one axle. The grinding medium is powered by the motor. Of course, the grinding medium may operate manually and not require power. In a preferred embodiment, there are two grinding mediums, or belt sanders, with two axles containing sand paper of different grit—one paper for sharpening and the other paper for polishing the blade. The two or more grinding mediums may be interlocked or allowed to move independent of one another. For example, there can be two grinding mediums in an interlocking position (up and down) which would facilitate simultaneously sharpening of the knife from the top side edge and the bottom side edge with the existing configuration. Of course, it is contemplated that the top side edge and the bottom side edge may be sharpened sequentially, one after the other, or any other type of sequence that is desirable. The advantage of having two grinding mediums is that it removes the step of having to raise and lower the height of the blade holder during sharpening. The grinding medium includes one or more abrasive or non-abrasive surfaces. The one or more abrasive or non-abrasive surfaces may also be interlocked. Alternatively, the one or more abrasive or non-abrasive surfaces may independently move.

The one or more tracers or rollers 540 have defined or preformed grooves 540A correlating to a plurality of predetermined angles for sharpening the edge of the blade. In operation, the height guide adjustment mechanism of the blade holder is raised or lowered to select or determine the desired groove in the tracer for a corresponding angle of sharpening. For example, if the desired angle of sharpening for a top side edge is large, then the groove selected would move the blade away from a top portion of the grinding medium. If the desired angle of sharpening for a bottom side edge is large, then the groove selected would move the blade away from the bottom portion of the grinding medium. Of course, if the desired angle of sharpening for a top side edge is small, then the groove selected would move the blade towards the top portion of the grinding medium. If the desired angle of sharpening for a bottom side edge is small, then the groove selected would move the blade towards the bottom portion of the grinding medium. Tracers copy and follow the contour of the cutting edge and keep the grinding medium on the tangent line of the cutting edge of the blade.

In one embodiment, the tracers may have five grooves correlating to five predetermined angles which correlate to 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, and 25 degrees or more. Of course, this is only an example and it is contemplated that there maybe more than five grooves and angles or less with differing ranges of angles or customizable angles for specialty knives with more than one angle. For example, a blade having a total cutting edge angle of 40 degrees would require a groove that corresponded to ½ the total angle or 20 degrees. The top side edge would be sharpened to the angle of 20 degrees and the bottom side edge of the blade would be sharpened to the angle of 20 degrees for a total of 40 degrees.

The base 510 includes the upper base 510A and the lower base 510B. The upper base includes the material or tracers that receive an impression of a blade defining a blade contour. The upper base is movable relative to the lower base. The lower base has a rectangular or other shaped platform for mounting or resting on a flat surface. The lower base has a mounting plate which is attached to the grinding medium. A dial mechanism and a locking mechanism are integrated within the lower base. The dial mechanism and the locking mechanism control the movement of the upper base relative to the lower base to determine the extent of force or pressure of the blade against the grinding medium which indicates the depth of cut. The upper base slidably moves within a grooved top end of the lower base when the dial mechanism is turned. The upper base has a housing with a recessed groove for increasing or decreasing the exposure of the grinding medium to the blade.

To increase the amount of force of the blade against the grinding medium, the upper base is moved rearward or away from the grinding medium. To decrease the amount of force of the blade against the grinding medium, the upper base is moved forward or towards the grinding medium. Once the depth of cut is selected by moving the dial mechanism which controls the movement of the upper base, the locking mechanism control can lock the upper base in position.

The guide, in one embodiment, includes a first guide 530A and a second guide 530B. The first guide 530A is rotatably movable relative to the base 510. The first guide 530A includes a pivoting arm connected to the carriage 550 and the blade holder 520. The second guide 530B is attached along a portion of the top end of the upper base 510A. The second guide 530B includes a moving rail attached to the base which allows the carriage to slidably move along a horizontal axis. The blade holder is also rotatably movable relative to the guide 530A.

The carriage 550 is connected to both the first guide 530A and the second guide 530B. The carriage 550 interacts with the guide 530A, 530B to define a sharpening path substantially aligning with the blade contour. The carriage 550, in one embodiment, is a sliding mechanism or block which can freely move along the moving rail of the first guide. The carriage also contains a small post or protrusion for connecting to the pivoting arm of the second guide. The carriage moves along a horizontal axis of the upper base to guide the blade along the tracers and the grinding medium. In one embodiment, the carriage is rotatably connected to the pivoting arm and slidably connected to the moving rail. In one embodiment, the carriage is spring-biased, using a spring 551, away from the blade to keep the blade on the tangent line of the grinding medium and the tracers.

In operation, the carriage and the guide direct the movement of the abrasive surface along the contour of the blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof. The invention provides a method for sharpening an edge of a blade using the blade sharpening device. First, a blade is secured in a blade holder. Second, an angle of the cutting edge of the blade is determined or the desired angle. Third, an angle for sharpening of the edge is selected using the material, or tracers, having preformed grooves corresponding to a particular angle for sharpening. Fourth, the depth of removal of material from blade is selected by increasing or decreasing pressure of the blade against the grinding medium or mediums. Fifth, the blade holder is moved to engage the blade on either the top side edge or the bottom side edge. Sixth, the edge of the blade is secured within the desired grooves for tracking the impression of the contour of the blade. Seventh, the blade tracks the material or tracers and the grinding medium while the blade moves backward and forward along the contour of the blade. As a result, the tangent line of the blade is maintained relative to the grinding medium during sharpening.

The invention may also include a vacuum attached to the base. The vacuum has an impeller which creates suction for filings from the blade. The vacuum deposits the metal filings into a bucket which can be emptied using by sliding out a door. In one embodiment, the vacuum and bucket is attached to the upper base.

Therefore, the present invention provides a blade sharpening device that requires less skill and provides a consistent contour and more uniform edge of a blade than prior art blade sharpeners. The blade sharpening device includes a unique construction that has the material, such as tracers, capable of receiving an impression of the contour of the blade. Together, the guide and carriage direct the movement and angle of the abrasive surface along the contour of the blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof.

It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the appended claims and the present invention. 

1. A blade sharpening device, comprising: a base, said base having an abrasive surface for sharpening a blade; a guide movable relative to the base, said guide including a blade holder for holding the blade; a carriage containing a means for interacting with the blade to define a sharpening path substantially aligning with the blade contour; whereby said guide and carriage direct the movement of the abrasive surface along the contour of the blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof.
 2. The blade sharpening device of claim 1, further comprising: means for sharpening along a tangent line of the blade relative to the abrasive surface.
 3. The blade sharpening device of claim 1, further comprising: means for adjusting degree of material removed from the blade.
 4. The blade sharpening device of claim 1, further comprising: means for adjusting angle at which blade is sharpened.
 5. A blade sharpening device, comprising: a base, said base having an abrasive surface for sharpening a blade; a carriage containing a means for interacting with a blade to define a sharpening path substantially aligning with the blade contour; a guide movable relative to the base; a blade holder for securing the blade while being sharpened connected to the guide; and whereby the guide and the carriage direct the movement of the abrasive surface along the contour of the blade for a uniform sharpening of the edge thereof.
 6. The blade sharpening device of claim 5, further comprising: the base including an upper base and a lower base, the upper base movable relative to the lower base.
 7. The blade sharpening device of claim 6, further comprising: a dial mechanism and a locking mechanism which control the movement of the upper base relative to the lower base.
 8. The blade sharpening device of claim 6, wherein the upper base includes a material that receives an impression of a blade defining a blade contour.
 9. The blade sharpening device of claim 8, wherein the material is defined as one or more tracers.
 10. The blade sharpening device of claim 9, wherein the one or more tracers have defined grooves related to a plurality of predetermined angles for sharpening the edge of the blade.
 11. The blade sharpening device of claim 5, wherein the guide includes a first guide and a second guide.
 12. The blade sharpening device of claim 11, wherein the first guide is rotatably movable relative to the base.
 13. The blade sharpening device of claim 11, wherein the second guide is attached to the base.
 14. The blade sharpening device of claim 12, wherein the first guide includes a pivoting arm connected to the carriage and the blade holder.
 15. The blade sharpening device of claim 5, wherein the second guide includes a moving rail attached to the base.
 16. The blade sharpening device of claim 5, wherein the blade holder is rotatably movable relative to the guide.
 17. The blade sharpening device of claim 5, further comprising: a grinding medium attached to the base, the grinding medium including one or more abrasive or non-abrasive surfaces.
 18. The blade sharpening device of claim 17, wherein the one or more abrasive or non-abrasive surfaces are interlocked.
 19. A blade sharpening device, comprising: a base, said base including a material that receives an impression of a blade defining a blade contour, said base having an abrasive surface for sharpening the blade; a guide slidably movable relative to the base; a carriage containing a means for interacting with the guide to define a sharpening path substantially aligning with the blade contour; whereby said guide and carriage direct the movement of the abrasive surface along the contour of the blade for a uniform sharpening of an edge thereof.
 20. A method for sharpening a blade, comprising: securing a blade in a blade holder; determining angle of cutting edge of the blade; selecting angles for sharpening of the blade using a material having preformed grooves; selecting depth of removal of material from blade by increasing or decreasing force of the blade against the grinding medium; securing edge of the blade within the grooves for tracking the impression of the contour of the blade; and tracking the material and the grinding medium while moving the blade backward and forward along the contour of the blade; whereby the tangent line of the blade is maintained relative to the grinding medium during sharpening. 